Fourth of July Party Prep – What to Cook

There are few things that keep better in the summer heat than a hearty noodle salad. This delicious recipe puts soba at the center. Served cold and packed with hydrating cucumbers, summer-fresh herbs, and a hit of ginger zest, it’ll remain delicious long after the party winds down–if there are any leftovers, that is (not likely).

Stressing about preparing the perfect main course for your party guests? We’ll let you in on a secret: our short-rib steaks come together in 35 minutes. A good steak on the grill is pretty much perfect as is, but we took this recipe to the next level by incorporating a parsley, lemon, and garlic gremolata. Keep this recipe handy, because your guests will ask for it.

These days, every good dinner party offers a vegetable forward side hearty enough to satisfy the vegetarians in the crowd. Here’s our take: it should also be delicious enough to compel carnivores to give it a try. Our summery zucchini burrata pizza delivers on all of those fronts. From the creamy burrata to the herby, garlicky pesto to the peak season zucchini, it’s the type of recipe you’ll make anytime you want to impress even your pickiest guests.

If it’s not already clear: the name of the game for our Fourth of July party planning is refreshing. You never know how warm the weather will be, so focusing on hydrating foods and drinks is always your best bet. “Hydrating” may not be your first thought when it comes to Campari spritzes, but the addition of pineapple here helps to both balance out the bitterness of the liqueur and add an H2O-packed tropical punch. Add sparkling wine right before your guests arrive to maintain the effervescence.

We took the nostalgic grocery store Fourth of July cake and gave it an elevated upgrade. Our version stays true to the patriotic color scheme, but leans into flavors like vanilla bean to bring an additional depth of flavor.